Chongming Island, located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, is an alluvial island in the Yangtze River Delta.
The island has flat terrain, fertile land, lush forests and rich products. It is a famous land of fish and rice.
At this moment, in a village north of Chongming Island, a large number of Japanese people gathered together.
If you just look at the appearance, you can't tell the difference between Japanese and Akito.
In order to deceive others, there are many real Ming Dynasty people on the periphery.
It may be a bit strange, why do the people of Ming Dynasty do things to the Japanese?
In fact, throughout history, the people at the bottom have never cared about who is the real owner of this land of China.
What is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and what is sacrificing one's life for the country, are completely different concepts for ordinary people.
Whoever can give a mouthful of food to eat is the master. This is the true embodiment of the current world, especially the people in the marginal areas.
They don't have much of an overall view. In addition, there are many ethnic groups in the Ming Dynasty, so naturally they don't have any national concepts.
All they want is a life.
The so-called prosperity means the people suffer, and when it dies, the people suffer, this is the truth.
So it's not a big deal to do things for the Japanese.
A Japanese man dressed in brocade clothes from Ming Dynasty summoned all the minor commanders in the village hall for discussion.
"Zhenhaiwei came with news and said they agreed to our purchase of firearms."
"But the price will go up two levels, and we only provide 300 guns, 300 matchlocks, and 300 small artillery pieces."
Ryoichi Asai, a Japanese man, spoke in fluent Ming Dynasty Mandarin.
In fact, at present, for many Japanese nobles, especially outside the Japanese country, they do not communicate in Japanese, but in Chinese.
However, their spoken Chinese is more biased towards the Tang Dynasty, and is somewhat different from the current Ming Dynasty Mandarin.
But the feeling of speaking, including some modal particles and speaking habits, are no different from ordinary Han people.
If they don't say it themselves, even if people from the Ming and Han Dynasties see it, they won't be able to feel the difference at all.
After all, for a territory as vast as the Ming Dynasty, it is very rare to be able to roughly understand the different sounds ten miles away.
Only educated literati would learn Ming Dynasty Mandarin.
For example, Mongolian language, no matter how popular it was during the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties, was limited to court officials and could not reach the common people at all.
"This price is too outrageous. Do these thousands of households in Zhenhaiwei really think that our money comes from the divine wind? Moreover, this amount is too small."
"You can't even equip three hundred people, and that's not even mentioning the purchase price of gunpowder. How can anyone do this kind of business? They're clearly trying to bully us, Baga!"
A warrior nobleman said unhappily with a long sword hanging from his waist.
However, his words were not recognized by others present.
Another young commander said: "Sir Asai, they promised when to deliver the goods."
"Now that the morale of the Ming army in the country is very strong, we urgently need to get firearms and send them back to General Ashikaga. Only in this way can we better fight against the Ming army."
"If we can buy some craftsmen who are proficient in gunpowder and firearms, I think the emperor will reward us."
Asai Ryoichi shook his head and said: "Aso-kun, things are not that simple. Craftsmen who are proficient in firearms are all in the hands of the Ming Dynasty officials and are not within the reach of Zhenhaiwei."
"It is very rare for us to be able to purchase firearms from Zhenhai Guards. The reason why I summoned you here today is not to discuss how to obtain craftsmen, but how to successfully purchase firearms from Zhenhai Guards. firearm."
Upon hearing this, all the Japanese commanders fell silent.
They are tasked with a special mission, which was given to them by His Majesty the Emperor and the Shogun.
Not only them, but other Japanese maritime merchants in the Ming Dynasty also received such news.
If you can get the Ming Dynasty's firearms back, you will definitely get a real reward, and even become a great noble. It is not impossible.
However, the Ming court's control over firearms was too strict. There was no circulation of sporadic firearms on the market, which meant that there were no traders selling firearms at all.
Firearms craftsmen all have strict restrictions, and due to their current relationship, they are completely out of reach.
"Damn it, the boss of these British Chamber of Commerce is actually the grandson of the Ming Dynasty. His snowflake salt has cost our Japanese country so much money. I didn't expect that someone with such a noble status would do such a thing."
A commander complained.
Because for these Japanese maritime merchants, the one they were most familiar with before, that is, the one they had the most contact with, was the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.
In their opinion, all the chambers of commerce in the Ming Dynasty have a sense of discrimination against the Japanese, but the Qunying Chamber of Commerce is particularly enthusiastic.
Coupled with the popularity of snowflake salt among Japanese nobles and its high profits, this has led to a very friendly relationship between most Japanese maritime merchants and the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.
Even within the territory of Japan, many Japanese merchants cooperated with the Qunying Chamber of Commerce and established branches in Japan.
Now such a sudden reversal really caught these Japanese merchants off guard.
Because there are too many channels, the Qunying Chamber of Commerce has communicated with each other without warning before, since the beginning of the Ming-Japanese War.
The Japanese maritime merchants suffered extremely serious blows, and many of their nests and strongholds were easily discovered and killed by the Ming army.
The hundreds of Japanese in this village today are actually composed of more than a dozen maritime merchants.
Every little commander sitting here had his own warriors and sailors before.
"Lord Asai, do Zhenhaiwei and the others still want to eat us?"
Ignoring the complaints from the commander next to him, an older commander asked.
Ryoichi Asai said: "We have cooperated with Zhenhaiwei many times. They were trustworthy friends before."
"But now, our country is at war with the Ming Dynasty. They are the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. Although there is no guarantee whether they will have any thoughts about us."
"After all, at this time, in their eyes, we can be the meticulous work of the Japanese country and their contribution."
"Zhenhaiwei has a strong territory and power here in Shanghai, and it also has wealth that far exceeds ours, so we must be prepared to have both."
After hearing Ryoichi Asai's words, all the Japanese commanders nodded.
As soon as Asai Ryo saw this, he took advantage of the situation and said: "Our location on Chongming Island has been known by the Zhenhai Guards, and there is no way to hide it from them, so I suggest that only half of the people stay, and the others go ahead before the Zhenhai Guards come. Go away and hide.”
"If everything goes well, then there is no need to say more. If something goes wrong, it can be used to let others know that Zhenhaiwei is no longer reliable."
As the proposal was agreed upon, all the Japanese leaders began to make arrangements.
But in the corner outside the house, there was a thin Han Chinese citizen, with golden eyes and a look of ecstasy on his face.
He was the original resident of this village, but he got the least share of the money given by the Japanese.
When he saw these Japanese people hurried in just now, he guessed that something must be going on, and now he overheard them all.
"I'm getting rich, I'm getting rich. If I sell this news to the officials in the government, I'm sure I can get a lot of money."
"I never thought that I, Liu Laosan, would one day make a fortune."
Liu Laosan left secretly, ran all the way to the beach, got on his small fishing boat, and headed towards the other side of the sea without hesitation.
....
Zhu Ying looked at the information in her hand and felt a little headache.
Because of Zhenhaiwei's situation, he felt that it was a bit tricky.
From the perspective of justice, there would be no problem if Zhenhaiwei was executed for all the things he did.
After all, the interests of the Ming Dynasty court have been involved. It can be said that it is on another level, robbing the court's wealth.
But as far as the current situation of other health centers is concerned, Zhenhai Guard is pretty good.
At least the gray business they engage in does not involve any moral bottom lines such as human trafficking. It can be said that they are using their own advantages to exploit the money of businessmen as the main body.
From the perspective of future generations, designation is not enough, but in today's fucked-up world, without taking away the people's fat and the people's anointing, it really is not a big problem.
"It seems that we can't take a tough attitude towards Zhenhaiwei, we can only use a combination of soft and hard tactics."
The reforms of the Ming Dynasty still have a long way to go. It is obviously very impossible to completely change the phenomenon of collecting money in the army and create complete discipline.
Being able to handle the guard posts around the capital has reached Zhu Ying's current limit.
Unless we suddenly turn all the two million soldiers of the Ming Dynasty into recruits who do not need to be stationed in the fields, this is certainly not in line with the current national conditions.
Especially now at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the vast majority of military generals are almost full of recklessness, and the cultivation of elite quality is just the beginning.
At this time, Uncle Zhang walked in: "My boss, over at our Chamber of Commerce, a citizen from Chongming Island came to report that he had discovered a collusion between the Japanese and Zhenhaiwei."
Zhu Ying's eyes lit up and she said, "Bring the person here quickly."
Soon, Liu Laosan was brought to Zhu Ying.
Liu Laosan came in all the way. He had never seen such a battle before. When he entered the back room, he didn't even dare to raise his head. He quickly knelt down and said, "Liu Laosan, a humble citizen, pays homage to the official."
Uncle Zhang scolded from the side: "Hurry up and tell me everything you know."
When Liu Laosan heard the reprimand, he trembled with fright and tremblingly recounted everything he had heard two days ago.
Although it sounded a little difficult because of his accent, Zhu Ying still understood the general meaning.
It is telling that in recent times, there has been a transaction involving firearms between Zhenhaiwei and Japanese merchants.
Zhang Bo suddenly said angrily: "What a Zhenhai Guard. I think they are pretty good today. I didn't expect them to be so bold and even communicate with the Japanese."
"As a soldier of the Ming Dynasty Guard, he sold off his firearms without authorization. This is a serious violation of the laws of the Ming Dynasty."
"My boss, it seems that we need to summon the sergeants first and arrest all these traitors to Japan."
It's not that Uncle Zhang has strong patriotic thoughts, but in Uncle Zhang's eyes, Ming Dynasty's money is his employer's money.
Especially the matchlock gun, which is the owner's hard work.
How could I endure being sold out so easily by Zhenhaiwei?
Zhu Ying frowned and did not speak immediately.
But thinking about the possibilities.
Judging from the intelligence on Zhenhai Guards, some of their actions are actually very careful.
Even if you are trying to save money, it doesn't mean it's too much. It can be regarded as abiding by some 'rules of the world'.
The most important thing is that in what Liu Laosan just said, the money transaction involved is not a large amount.
Logically speaking, this little money should not allow Zhenhaiwei to take such a big risk.
But looking at Liu Laosan kneeling on the ground in front of him, thinking about his own little thoughts, Zhu Ying also knew that he was definitely not lying.
If we directly mobilize other surrounding guards and sergeants now, it would be like truly convicting the Zhenhai Guards.
In fact, in Zhu Ying's mind, although Zhenhaiwei had engaged in some periods of asking for money, in terms of scale and method, it was considered a more talented method.
They themselves did not participate directly, but organized a gang through indirect means.
It was learned from the news that some sergeants who retired from the Zhenhai Guards were still able to continue to make a living with the Caobang, which showed that the commander of the Zhenhai Guards was quite particular about brotherly loyalty.
After thinking for a while, Zhu Ying said: "Just mobilize the Xuanjia Guards secretly. There is no need to summon other soldiers in a big way."
"Ask the people from Jinyiwei to closely monitor Zhenhaiwei in the past two days. If there is any action, we will follow immediately."
When Uncle Zhang heard this, he was a little confused, but he still replied: "Okay, boss."
Seeing this, Zhu Ying smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, there should be a good show waiting for us by then."
Liu Laosan below saw that all the officials seemed to have forgotten him, so he couldn't help but coughed.
Zhu Ying will naturally not treat him unfairly: "You've done a good job and I'll reward you with thirty pieces of treasure money. Go down and receive the reward."
Liu Laosan kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Mr. Guan, thank you, Mr. Guan."
....
Two days later,
A large number of sergeants set out from Zhenhaiwei, led by Qianhu.
Jin Yiwei, who was hiding in the dark, saw it and quickly took a rough inventory.
"Good fellow, Zhenhaiwei and these people look like they are going to war, looking at their momentum."
"Stop nagging, report the news quickly, no one will be around in a while."
Following the report from Jin Yiwei's hidden line, the three thousand Xuanjia guards who had been waiting for a long time heard the news and did not follow them. Instead, they took a ferry directly from the other side to Chongming Island.
This time Zhu Ying did not leave, but went into battle in person.
This made Uncle Zhang on the side look very anxious.
Although my boss once often led his team to walk in dangerous places such as deserts and grasslands.
But now his identity is different. How can he easily take risks with a body worth ten thousand dollars?
But looking at his boss's expression, Uncle Zhang could only swallow his words of persuasion.
